Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

October 11, 2012

With just 400 to 450 words for our weekly State Worker column, much of what we learn each week never sees print. Column Extras give you some of the notes, the quotes and the observations that inform what's published.

Our column today draws some parallels between recent changes to public employee pensions and a proposal to increase premiums by up to 85 percent for members in CalPERS long-term care program. (Unlike pensions, the fund's long-term insurance plan operates solely on members' premiums and investments. No employer money is involved.)

Here's the agenda item for next week, with a summary, background and analysis of how CalPERS, like many others in the long-term care insurance industry, got to this point and how it hopes to turn things around:

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About The State Worker

The Author

Jon Ortiz launched The State Worker blog and a companion column in 2008 to cover state government from the perspective of California government employees. Every day he filters the news through a single question: "What does this mean for state workers?" Join Ortiz for updates and debate on state pay, benefits, pensions, contracts and jobs. Contact him at (916) 321-1043 and at jortiz@sacbee.com.

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